Four men are in custody, and police confiscated heroin and weapons — including an AK-47 rifle and AK-47 pistol — in an arrest at the Lake Forest Oasis after a long-term investigation aimed at heroin dealers by the Lake County sheriff’s Gang Task Force.
“I can’t emphasize it enough — drugs kill, plain and simple,” Sheriff Mark Curran said. “Drugs and gangs destroy families and dreams. The Sheriff’s Gang Task Force will continue making it a priority to suppress drugs and gangs in our community.”
Arrested and held in lieu of $1 million bail in the Lake County Jail was Joshua D. Allen, 29, of Waukegan, who sold a total of more than 125 grams of heroin over 10 occasions to undercover detectives, sheriff’s office spokesman Sgt. Christopher Covelli said.
Allen was arrested Jan. 25 after an undercover officer purchased a final 19 grams of heroin, Covelli said, adding that Allen faces five counts of unlawful possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and five counts of possession of a controlled substance, class X felonies, and other drug-related charges.
On the following day, the task force arrested Anthony E. Hubanks, 27, of Waukegan, who sold undercover agents more than 70 grams of heroin and seven firearms in the past, Covelli said. Hubanks and Essex D. Styles, 24, of Round Lake, met undercover officers at the Lake Forest Oasis for a final purchase, and police found an AK-47 rifle and AK-47 pistol when they made the arrest, Covelli added.
Hubanks is in federal custody and being held without bail on numerous weapons offenses, Covelli said. He added that Styles is being held in lieu of $250,000 bail on two counts of unlawful use of a weapon and possession of a weapon by a felon, two counts of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, and having no firearm owner’s identification card.
Darius M. Smith, 26, of Waukegan, is being held in lieu of $750,000 bail following his arrest Wednesday after he previously sold more than 25 grams of heroin to undercover officers during multiple purchases, Covelli said. Smith was charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, class X felonies, and other drug charges, Covelli said.
On the same day, Kieshaun D. Smith, 21, of Gurnee, was taken into custody at his home after law enforcement officials obtained an arrest warrant, Covelli said, and the heroin he sold to officers was found to contain the opioid additive fentanyl. Smith is being held in lieu of $250,000 bail on charges of unlawful possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession with intent to deliver, Covelli said.
Undersheriff Ray Rose praised the long-term operation and the results.
“I couldn’t be more proud of the hard work and dedication by members of the sheriff’s Gang Task Force,” Rose said. “More and more communities are joining the task force, which is making us stronger in our efforts to keep Lake County safe.”
Rose added, “We will continue focusing our efforts combating gang and drug activity while continuing to educate the community.”
The task force is a multijurisdictional team that also works with federal partners like the Drug Enforcement Administration; the FBI; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; and the Homeland Security Department’s Homeland Security Investigations, according to Covelli.
Lake County participants in the task force include police departments in Grayslake, Lakemoor, Lake Villa, Mundelein, North Chicago, Park City and Wauconda. Also participating are the Lake County Forest Preserve police and the Lake County state’s attorney’s office.
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